New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has asked for a mandatory 24 days institutional quarantine for people coming from Afghanistan.
Sources in the health ministry told ETV Bharat that the decision was taken after two of the 146 people who were evacuated from Afghanistan to India were found COVID-19 positive. They have been admitted at Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) for further treatment.
India is undertaking emergency evacuation of people from Afghanistan. Considering the nature of the crisis, the Union Health Ministry has already allowed exemption from mandatory pre-boarding RT-PCR testing (presently mandated for international travellers) of these people.
Also read: India's evacuation mission from Afghanistan named "Operation Devi Shakti"
"As the COVID-19 immunisation status of these individuals is unknown, and the exact extent of COVID-19 transmission (including circulation of variants) in Afghanistan is unclear at present, as a matter of abundant precaution, it has been decided that the arriving persons shall undergo a mandatory minimum 14 days institutional quarantine at lTBP's Chhawla camp," the notice issued to the foreign secretary, home secretary, and civil aviation secretary said.
"The Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation shall intimate ITBP adequately in advance about the exact date and timing of these incoming flights along with the passengers manifest. The said information may also be provided to Government of Delhi," the health ministry said.
It said that ITBP shall make requisite arrangements for arranging transportation of passengers from arrival at the airport to the Chhawla camp.
